The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: sledgemeister on October 18, 2013, 07:10:39 PM
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Usually in Aus we have bush fires its part of life, just like you guys get twisters and tornadoes etc.
This year they have started early in NSW. Fueled by dry bush, 90-100kph winds and high temps 95-100F temps its created the perfect fire storm.
Hundreds of homes lost and its only the beginning of the bush fire season which will last to the end of March.
It certainly is going to make for an interesting summer, and springs just started!
some of the images
(http://images.smh.com.au/2013/10/17/4839177/ZZZZZZZZZZZ_fires-20131017212712998365-940x628.jpg)
(http://unclutteredwhitespaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2012-NSW-Bushfire-Season-blank-1.jpg)
(http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/10/17/1226742/027127-131018-bushfires.jpg)
The number of bush fires currently just in NSW
(http://static.squarespace.com/static/50125136c4aa13a9a2853087/51552f40e4b0868e8c0e37e6/51552f42e4b0868e8c0e3852/1357527864000/IMG_1134.png?format=original)
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for those interested there is some live coverage being shown
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Not available in this country.
they likely don't want to discourage tourists.
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Not available in this country.
they likely don't want to discourage tourists.
hehe most likely so
(http://global3.memecdn.com/australia-you-might-accidentally-get-killed_o_579457.jpg)
(http://s3.roosterteeth.com/images/Ptree48bbe54ec8978.jpg)
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Come+to+australia..+they+said_cf3186_4166849.jpg)
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I feel for those in the fires path, we had a similar situation right here a couple of years ago. Fortunately my property was spared but there is certainly a feeling of hopelessness while watching the progress of the flames. I have a sister who lives just a little North of your map in a town called 'Mount Glorious' - hope it stays that way!
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I feel for those in the fires path, we had a similar situation right here a couple of years ago. Fortunately my property was spared but there is certainly a feeling of hopelessness while watching the progress of the flames. I have a sister who lives just a little North of your map in a town called 'Mount Glorious' - hope it stays that way!
We had fires down this away on the Tasman Peninsula early this year wiped out a whole town, mother nature doesnt take much to get pissed off with us mere mortals.
Lots of bush up your sisters way fingers crossed the fire god avoids it.
It will be an interesting season to be sure.
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I wonder if underground homes designed for the fires are a practical alternative to having everything you own being eligible for becoming wild fire fuel?
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I wonder if underground homes designed for the fires are a practical alternative to having everything you own being eligible for becoming wild fire fuel?
I feel sorry for the people who lost everything in these fires, but I have to agree with Solus here.
These fires happen every year, same as wild fires in the American West .
Seems like some prior planning should be used before building.
Conventional methods certainly seem to be a failure.
Some one like TAB is bound to point out that other methods, such as "earth sheltered" are much more expensive, but the fact is that it's nowhere near as expensive as losing everything ,including, potentially, your life.
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I spent a number of years living in the California fire area and there are a number of "realities" that must be faced if one wants to avoid the reality of replacing a home every decade or so...
The barranca as it is called, is the accumulation of dry vegetation that occurs naturally throughout relatively arid areas. Add to this the natural adaptation of many plants out there that require a burn-off in order to properly propagate.
When the burn occurs naturally every couple of years, the fire moves through rapidly without doing any particular damage.
The problem is that man has built homes out there and he has built them out of flammable materials. Shake roof shingles and white wood studs and rafters make for a quick starting fire. Add to that the fact that small fires are generally quickly extinguished allowing for many years of build-up of dry vegetation throughout the area. When the big blaze does come, it is catastrophic due to the tremendous accumulation of fuel.
Mankind has tried to force Nature to adapt to his desires, and it hasn't worked at all well. Fire resistant homes, or homes built into the ground might be an answer, but it's hard to show off how much money you have when your home is underground. Egos require McMansions.
Still, fire is a frightening reality when it is bearing down on your home, your town, or your place of business. Those faced with this terror have my best wishes and deepest sympathy.
Crusader Rabbit
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out west they have lots sprinkler/ foam systems. i don't know how well it would work out there do to the lack of water.
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You know, CR, that just reminded me of a building technique I read about maybe back in the 70s.
The purpose was to save on heating/cooling costs, but it had a side benefit of being relatively fireproof.
It was build on a deep concrete foundation, either with a basement or without, and the walls were made of the above ground were made of poured concrete or concrete blocks. Concrete slabs were used for flat roofing.
It was insulated on the outside with a thick polyurethane coating (which might not be fireproof enough) and then stucco was applied as an outside appearance item.
The polyurethane acted both as insulation and an expansion element between the stucco and concrete.
Theory was that the concrete would "wick up" the low below ground temperatures making the year round temperature of the interior near 55 degrees...with what ever temperature variations the window openings would cause. Heating and cooling costs would only need to be for adjusting the temp from there.
Maybe something like that would work both to save energy costs and be more fireproof?
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From what I have seen, people won't build a defensible area around their homes. People in fire prone areas need to clear the brush next to their homes instead of allowing it to grow next to their homes. As a fire fighter you see some homes that just have to be wrote off because you will get men killed attempting to defend them. I haven't been to California but I have seen it a lot in New Mexico and Colorado. Pine trees allowed to grow all around the house. I have even seen it here in west Texas. In 2011 I saw plenty of examples here. I also saw alot that were easy to defend because the brush had been cleared.
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you are right on the money with that. It use to drive me nuts. I built several cabins( if you can call them that) in the foot hills(sierra nevadas in ca and tahoe). some people speced fire resistant stuff, others want trees litterly touching their houses/ cabins. I remember one couple, they went the extra mile. Steel structure, steel roof, hardi(fiber cement) siding, foam sprinkler system, 20' of gravel, 20 addional feet of low growth, under ground propane tank, you name it, they did it. The had been burned down 4x over 30 years and didn't want it to happen again. the cabin a mile up the road, shake siding, litterly in the trees. Last it brunt down in the rim fire( the one that just happen) and the other i saw on news coverage intacted. ok enought ranting about idoits for now lol
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you are right on the money with that. It use to drive me nuts. I built several cabins( if you can call them that) in the foot hills(sierra nevadas in ca and tahoe). some people speced fire resistant stuff, others want trees litterly touching their houses/ cabins. I remember one couple, they went the extra mile. Steel structure, steel roof, hardi(fiber cement) siding, foam sprinkler system, 20' of gravel, 20 addional feet of low growth, under ground propane tank, you name it, they did it. The had been burned down 4x over 30 years and didn't want it to happen again. the cabin a mile up the road, shake siding, litterly in the trees. Last it brunt down in the rim fire( the one that just happen) and the other i saw on news coverage intacted. ok enought ranting about idoits for now lol
part of the problem we have here at least is the "green" contingent preventing the allowing of proper clearance of trees around houses, the allowing of non seasonal burns to remove a lot of ground litter, then they have the nerve to blame this on climate change, go figure. Of course there is also the stupidity factor, people not taking the proper precautions, not developing and practicing fire plans, not checking their firefighting equipment or not having any at all.
Fires have occurred naturally in this part of the world since the time of the first black fella (not a racist term fwiw) they would set fires and burn to encourage new growth to attract roo's and other food sources, its only since modern times were we see a fire and put it out that the natural cycle has been halted, unfortunately when it does occur as it inevitably does it does so with catastrophic consequences because there is so much more fuel about. Also the 100F days and 80mph winds dont help
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part of the problem we have here at least is the "green" contingent preventing the allowing of proper clearance of trees around houses, the allowing of non seasonal burns to remove a lot of ground litter, then they have the nerve to blame this on climate change, go figure. Of course there is also the stupidity factor, people not taking the proper precautions, not developing and practicing fire plans, not checking their firefighting equipment or not having any at all.
Fires have occurred naturally in this part of the world since the time of the first black fella (not a racist term fwiw) they would set fires and burn to encourage new growth to attract roo's and other food sources, its only since modern times were we see a fire and put it out that the natural cycle has been halted, unfortunately when it does occur as it inevitably does it does so with catastrophic consequences because there is so much more fuel about. Also the 100F days and 80mph winds dont help
The same happens here in the USA. Everyone wants to live in nature yet most fail to set up a defensible space around their property. Stay safe and wish you thebest of luck this fire season